KULLU VALLEY TEMPLE TOUR ITINERARY Cultural Heritage Tourism in Kullu Valley.
There is a vast potential to sell temple tour package of 3 to 5 days in days in Kullu valley. While a few temples like Hadimba Devi of Manali is an standard destination, the valley offers several other little known and unspoiled architectural wonders all located conveniently on motor able roads, which should not be missed. Strongly recommended by the publisher.

Jagarnathi Devi Temple at BhekliSituated at 1675 meters overlooking historic town of Kullu, this temple village is connected by a 10 km newly constructed motor able road. World famous Bijleshwer Mahadev will also be connected by road in coming years then this spot will emerge as world class Paragliding centre due to its proximity to Bhuntar Airport.
It is interesting to note that Goddess Bhekli never participates in the great annual Dussehra Rath Yatra, the procession of over one hundred Gods assembling in Kullu down below.
There are several legends about the origin of Goddess Jagarnathi or Bhuvenshwari which is narrated through a possessed priest called ‘Gur’ during Bhekli Fair held in April every year.

Raghunath Temple at Kullu

The entire religious life style of Kullu valley revolves around the most sacred idol of God Raghunathji brought stealthily from Ayodhya and enthroned here in 1551.
Daily rituals comprising sacred bath, intricate floral decoration and worship of this principal deity of Kullu valley is a film maker’s delight. During the week long Dussehra festival held in October, Lord Raghunath becomes the hub of all religious fervor.

Trijugi Narayan Temple at Dayar
A 16 km winding motor road takes you to perhaps the best picnic spot visited by just an odd group of weekenders. A half kilometer leisure walk through thick pine jungle leads to ‘Upru Thatch’ on top of a 700 meters sheer cliff – the ‘Rock Pillar’.
The pagoda style temple is famous for Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. The main rath of Trijugi Narayan – the god of three Eras is enthroned here. A leisure walk over Duff Dunbar suspension bridge at the airport designed and erected by a non-engineer English forest officer is must for every visitor.

Addi Brahma Temple at KhokhanSurprisingly, this pagoda style temple located just 3 km from your hotel near the airport has never been included in tourist itinerary earlier. According to a legend the entire mountainside called ‘Guru Phat’ had once crumbled down on this village killing all Brahmin folks due to a curser of a Rajput widow.
The main pagoda temple is surrounded by a few smaller temples dedicated to Brahma and Saraswati who have their adobe in village Rolgi is just above this temple.

Vishveshwar Mahadev Temple at Bajaura
Enroute Shoja in Banjar, some 70 km away, the first halt is only 10 minutes drive to the Sun temple dedicated to lord Shiva, constructed in Shikhara style perfected by Indo Aryan in the 8th and 9th centuries. This is the most beautiful rock temple with immense architectural as well as archaeological importance. It houses a large Shivlinga (Phallus) in its sanctum sanctorum facing the East with several motifs of animals and birds engraved on rocks. On the south are the stone idols of Ganesha enthroned on two lions; on the west is Lord Vishnu and towards the north the Goddess Durga killing a demon.
In the evening return to Shoja and stay in most ideally located Forest Rest House or at Banjara Retreat after a few hours’ trout fishing in crystal clear waters of the Tirthan River

Shoja and BahuHere you see the finest landscape of Himachal Pradesh with lush green forests filled with abundance of flora and fauna, sparking streams and magnificent snow clad mountain passes around. To have a 360 degree angle view of this unique spectacle, drive about 16 km winding road through dense forests of oak, deodar and chestnuts to a small rest house of Bahu from where 10,280 ft Jalori Pass just above the grassy meadows of Shoja surrounded by lush forest, Shringi Rishi Temple and 10 stories tower fort of Chehni ensconced in another thick woods with Bashleo Pass as the backdrop is an unforgettable spectacle. From here you may start your journey back to Manali after visiting Shringi Rishi, the most powerful deity of this region.

Mahadevi Tirth
After shopping in handicrafts Bazaar of Kullu a short stoppage here on the river bank is quite exhilarating. This temple with few caves housing different gods, has come up on the tourist map due to its efficient management.

Tripura Sundari Temple at Naggar
After crossing river Beas at Seobagh, follow the valley’s most beautiful left bank route and come across that unspoilt charm of a typical old time village of Kais (10 km). The Kullu valley has rightly earned the title of ‘Apple Bowl of India’, is well evident here. Naggar, the old capital of Kullu boasts of several other landmark monuments like Roerich, s personal art gallery in his vast estate, a castle, besides the beautiful pagoda temple of Tripura Sundari, famous for its main idol with 21 masks and a large golden ‘chhattar’.

Gouri Shankar Temple
Just near the bus stand is this 9th century temple- perhaps last of its kind to be built in Shikhar style in the valley.

Jagati Pat
According to a legend a huge slab of rock was carried away by thousands of honey bees to the Naggar castle, where it is the main tourist attraction and is worshipped by devout villagers.

Sandhya Gayatri Temple and Gauri Shankar Temples at Jagatsukh
This village, only 6 km from Manali is said to be the ancient capital of Kullu Estate. Though there is a stone inscription stating that this temple was constructed in 1428, archaeologists have confirmed it to be 8th century. A few stone pillars lying in the courtyard signify its possibility of remains of a fort.
You are back in Manali to explore many new things of great tourist interest. So be sure, not to miss this temple tour itinerary on your visit to the “Valley of Gods” – Kullu.